Granddaughter takes over Albion Christmas tree operation

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 November 2013 at 12:00 am

Photo by Tom Rivers – Katie Klotzbach opened County House Christmas Trees today at 13420 West County House Rd. She worked for her grandparents, Hugh and Eleni Dudley, at their Christmas tree farm before moving the site down the road this holiday season.

ALBION – After nearly a half century selling Christmas trees, Hugh and Eleni Dudley have retired from the business on West Countyhouse Road.

But the operation will continue down the road, and Mr. Dudley said the business is in good hands. His granddaughter, Katie Klotzbach, has taken it over. She has given it a new name, County House Christmas Trees. She opened today, selling trees from her parents’ property at 13420 Countyhouse Rd. Jim and Kerry Panek have been selling pumpkins and strawberries from the site for years.

“There is more space here and people know the location,” Klotzbach, 28, said this morning.

Klotzbach grew up helping her grandparents sell Christmas trees in Albion. The past five seasons she worked alongside them.

“She’s worked with us and she understands the business,” Mr. Dudley said. “She will do a good job.”

Klotzbach has recruited 20 vendors for the new site, artisans who sell jam, jewelry, stained-glass, pottery and custom masonry products.

She has about 300 trees for sale, including Fraser Fir, Concolor, Douglas Fir and Potted Blue Spruce. She also has hundreds of wreaths, including many made by her grandmother.

Klotzbach is a graduate of Morrisville State College and Cornell Unviersity. She has run her own business, Flower Fields Forever, since 2007. She also worked eight years as a program assistant for the Cornell Vegetable Program.

County House Christmas Trees is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.